

On January 30, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published six top tips to make filing a 2024 tax return easier. The IRS explained these tips are also available on IRS.gov on the “Let us Help you” webpage. Taxpayers are encouraged to use these helpful suggestions to make filing easy this year.
1. Gather Important Tax Paperwork — Taxpayers should have a list of common items needed for filing tax returns. These include Social Security numbers (SSNs) for the individuals on the tax return, your bank account and routing numbers, tax forms such as a W-2s, 1099s, 1098s and digital asset sale records. You should keep IRS Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement as well as any letters sent to you by the IRS.
2. Report All Income — Taxpayers are reminded that all income from any category is taxable. This could include income from goods that you created and sold online, investment income, part-time income, self-employment or business income and funds received for services through mobile apps.
3. Avoid Paper Returns — The best and safest way to file is with an electronic return or tax software. The software checks your math and guides you through each section of the return. After you have completed your data entry, a powerful benefit of tax preparation software is that it conducts hundreds of checks on your entries to ensure you have a correct return. If you file a paper tax return, your refund may be significantly delayed and the potential for filing errors increases dramatically.
4. IRS Free Resources — There are multiple resources to assist taxpayers. The IRS Free File program offers commercial software at no cost to individuals with income in 2024 of $84,000 or less. There are 25 states that participate this year in the Direct File program on IRS.gov. The web-based service is free for individuals with simple tax returns and guides you through the filing process with a series of questions and enables you to use your state’s tools to complete your state tax return. If your income is over $84,000, you can use the IRS Free File Fillable Forms. Most taxpayers with incomes of $67,000 or less, with a disability or limited English capabilities, or those age 60 and over, can benefit from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Military members may use the MilTax program.
5. Tax Filing Options — There are multiple methods for tax filing. Last year, over 54% of taxpayers used the services of a tax return preparer. The IRS maintains the Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications on IRS.gov. Many individuals will use commercial software, the IRS Free File system or the IRS Direct File system. Only a small percentage of individuals are expected to prepare their own taxes without outside assistance.
6. Online Resources — Taxpayers can use multiple resources on IRS.gov. The most popular resources are the Interactive Tax Assistant and the “Let us Help you” webpage.


By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
The elevator in the Washington County Courthouse is undergoing repairs, so the next meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners will be held at the Washington CountyGovernment Building at 806 Martinsburg Road, Salem.
The meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The commissioners meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 9 a.m. These meetings are open to the public.


The Washington County Community Foundation offers this creative solution for seniors who experience difficulty maintaining property as their age advances:
Miranda lived in the family home where she and her spouse had raised their three children. After her spouse passed away, Miranda found it increasingly difficult to care for her property.
Miranda's grandson came often to visit and help with chores around the house. On one such visit, he helped Miranda "surf" the internet. She enjoyed reading the weekly finance updates and donor stories on her favorite charity's planned giving website. On one such visit, Miranda learned that she could make a gift of her home to the charity and receive income for life.
Miranda thought that she might want to move to a condominium with less upkeep. Her financial advisor reviewed the plan and said that the income she received from the charitable remainder trust would be enough to cover her living expenses.
Miranda was thrilled that she could turn her property into income to meet her future needs and receive a charitable deduction for her gift.
Is a gift of your home to fund a charitable trust right for you?
Your home has been one of your best assets, but after the kids move out and the house gets harder to care for, you may have other needs. Better than a reverse mortgage, a unitrust is one strategy to "downsize" your home, avoid capital gains tax and provide you with income.
If you have questions about how a unitrust could help you downsize, please give us a call. We would be happy to answer questions that you might have.
*Please note: The name and image above are representative of a typical donor and may or may not be an actual donor to our organization. Since your unitrust benefits may be different, you may want to click here to view a color example of your benefits.
For more information, please contact the Washington County Community Foundation at 812-883-7334.


Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari officials have begun hiring to fill more than 2,000 positions to meet the needs of the 2025 Season. Applications are now open on the Holiday World website. An in-person Job Fair will be held on March 8 and phone interviews will be held February 22 and March 15.
In spite of hiring challenges statewide, Fourth-Generation Owner & Director of Communications Leah Koch-Blumhardt says the Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari team is more than prepared to meet this year’s expectations.
“We expect record-high return rates this season, so the openings for new hires are more limited than they’ve ever been,” says Fourth-Generation Owner and Director of Communications Leah Koch-Blumhardt. “Most departments were fully staffed by May in 2024, so it’s important for anyone interested to submit an application and interview as early as possible.”
In addition to the parks’ job fair and phone interview days, Holiday World will also host hiring events in Owensboro on March 1 and Evansville on April 5. Interested Team Members are encouraged to apply and interview before the event so they can bring documents to complete the hiring process, though interviews may be available on the spot.
Holiday World offers several job perks for seasonal Team Members including:
- A personal Season Pass
- 50% off food
- 20% off merchandise
- Employee parties with exclusive ride time
- Free access to other amusement parks and attractions in the area
- Earn points for Holiday World tickets, food, and prizes
- Two free uniforms
- Access to Employee Transportation program for a nominal fee
- $13 starting wage for individuals 16 and older
- $13 starting wage for Lifeguards 15 and older
“Working at Holiday World isn’t just about finding a fun summer job. It’s about learning how to treat every Guest like family. Team Members learn responsibility, build self-confidence, and make new friends,” adds Koch-Blumhardt. “We always like to say that it’s not whether you should work here, it’s where.”
The parks have more than 30 departments ranging from Food & Beverage, Lifeguards, and Ride Operators to smaller departments like Morning Cleaning, and specialty departments such as EMTs and Mowing. Individuals must be at least 14 years old to apply; however, most positions require individuals to be at least 16 or older. In 2024, the park received a record number of applications, so interested first-time applicants should apply early.
“Our Guest Satisfaction scores haves skyrocketed in the last three years, and that’s thanks to our incredible team and record staffing levels,” says President & CEO Matt Eckert. “Our new employee housing, Compass Commons, has allowed us to attract Team Members from around the country, and the world, but our Transportation program continues to be a success as well. Holiday World is an employer of choice—no matter your age, background, or experience.”
Adults seeking seasonal employment, such as retirees and teachers, are encouraged to apply. Team Member housing is limited; applicants must be at least 18 years old or older to apply and must live at least 50 miles from Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.
Holiday World recently announced that its 2025 season will be the longest in recent history with 132 operating days and the return of Friday Night Live! in the fall.
For more information about seasonal and full-time job opportunities, visit HolidayWorld.com/Jobs. Please fill out the form here or call 812-937-5252 with employment questions.
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